There are many defining characteristics of the CV of the future, a lot of CVs are still being formatted how they was decades ago, so let us look at the speculations about what the CV of the future could look like.
Privacy is becoming increasingly crucial; therefore, it should be personal preference as to what contact details you have on your CV. It is important to have contact details at the top of your CV such as your name, email address or LinkedIn profile (if you have one), so people know who you are and how to contact you one way or another. However, until a connection has been made and agreed by both candidate and employer or recruiter, it could be deemed safer for candidates to limit what personal details are displayed. For example, addresses, it is important for employers and recruiters to know what area you are in if it is specific to the role, but a location rather than the whole address could be considered safer.
Traditional CVs need to adapt to employers changing needs, technology is ever changing our lives. The demand for CV writing services will more than likely increase due to the use of ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Employers and recruiters receive a vast amount of CV’s, it would be fair to say there needs to be a way of shortlisting candidates quickly. An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) does just that, so it is crucial for a CV to illustrate you as an individual but emphasise on keywords. This means your CV should be specific to the job you are looking for; skills will be the focus and although useful for recruiting algorithms they will also be important for showing employers how you can adapt to the changing workforce.
Gaps could become more common with more of us expected to work well into our 70’s, meaning people are likely to take a break or study further. Just make sure these are highlighted on your CV and explained as it shows how you have stayed relevant through what you have learned from your break or how you have sharpened your skills through further study.
Your CV should show rather than tell, if you can give examples whether it is figures or an online work portfolio or other showcase page like your LinkedIn profile then do so. It should give information on your experience and abilities as well as proven results and assessments. This will reinforce what you have written on your CV and show you can give evidence to your experience. Personalisation is key! Highlighting your individual character is what will set you apart from everyone else. Use your CV as a way of illustrating a deeper part of you. You could include a cover letter; it provides further details of how your skills set aligns with your role and will help recruiters and employers develop a better understanding of your suitability for the position.